I've heard that figure bandied about a lot and I'm beginning to question if anyone's going back and rechecking it. I remember it being related to Aenima and Undertow album sales and the population of the day, but there's been two albums and a live disc since, plus the population has grown.

I wouldn't be surprised if the figures still showed something like that, but when was the last time someone checked instead of just writing it?

Apparently the 'sound issues' were because the wind was blowing the sound back into the PA (or so I was told by some sound-engineer type). The sound did seem better from the East Stand though. It really was an oasis of calm after the madness of everwhere else....

The placing of the food stalls was very strange and did make it very difficult to move through that area. Didnt they used to have a little area with stalls around the outisde of a nice grassy area to sit in?

Yeah Matt, I thought the sound during the Killers was all over the place too. I thought it might have been something to do with the breeze it was so bad. Didn't seem to be like that for the other bands in the main stadium.

Went to the first 6 or so BDOs but haven't been for a while as I am not a fan of being caught in the middle of lots of people. With the exception of arriving and making my way into the main stadium it wasn't too bad - had a thoroughly good day all round. Did stay mostly in the main stadium though - crowds thing. Pity I missed out on some of the other stuff.

My friend went in Sydney a few years ago where the the stadium is huge and they don't fill it quite so full. He said that was great.

Thought Killers were good, and Tool (yes Tool) and Evermore were rather lovely. Relaxed and charismatic for such young guys and there sound translated well to live. Caught some of Shapeshifter and that was good.

The crowd were great I thought - had some good chats to those around us in the stand.

Thought Killers were good, and Tool (yes Tool) and Evermore were rather lovely. Relaxed and charismatic for such young guys and there sound translated well to live.

I actually wish I'd seen a little bit of Evermore. They're really not my thing, but I get the impression they were quite nice.

The crowd were great I thought - had some good chats to those around us in the stand.

Of course. OTOH, my buddy Andy tried to engage a thirtysomething woman in the traditional how's-yer-day-been toilet queue conversation, and she didn't get it at all and looked at him like he was a sex attacker. Clearly a newbie.

I think NZ is a fairly unique market as both US and UK indie bands have healthy sales here, whereas in the UK a lot of the american college bands don't really make much of an impact.

I missed out on BDO this year but went to the Big Night Before - less than half the price, you got to actually see and hear the sets properly *and* you could buy a beer quickly and easily and take it back to your seat! I think, and this is not a dig, that the BDO is infinitely better for those who get comped into VIP lounges and the like. Which means that they get excellent press that doesn't really reflect the ordinary punters experience.

BTW, what does a table cost? And can anyone with the money get one or do you have to be in a media magic circle?

Maybe NZ could justify a 2 day min-Glastonbury style festival on a largish rural site these days? Preferably BYO (and ok - hike the ticket prices to cover the lack of beer sales). (Or, why can't dance parties have a license like Pirongia races - it's not R18, you can buy cans at the bar and take them anywhere *or* bring your own booze in?)

I think, and this is not a dig, that the BDO is infinitely better for those who get comped into VIP lounges and the like. Which means that they get excellent press that doesn't really reflect the ordinary punters experience.

I don't think so. I waded through nearly 50 BDO blogs and while there were some complaints, I didn't find one punter who didn't have a good time - people seemed bloody delighted about it all.

If I didn't have sanctuary (anyone can buy the lounge tables, but you have to have the money and be in quick) I guess I'd go a bit later in the day, but there is seating in the stands for those who want it, and there were a lot of teenies pulling 12-hour shifts. People know it's going to be a test of endurance. I think the worst part is the toilets. They needed twice as many portaloos.

Heh, I saw the Femmes at 2003 East Coast Blues & Roots show in Byron Bay (no I have no idea what they were doing there either). They were pretty good too.

Apparently Australian kids are fed the lyrics to all their songs in utero or something, because they knew every word to every bloody song. It's quite surreal to be standing in the front row, looking around at many, many teenage girls in bikinis, all bouncing up and down in unison and screaming "how can I get... just one fuck".

Russell, people like Tool because...there's just so much to like. While it might not be everyone's cup of tea, once you know the process this band goes through to create their art (they don't call it music), you gain some appreciation for how unique they are...from Maynard's fascination with Sacred Geometry (a lot of their songs are constructed around this idea) to his new-found spirituality, they're a special group of performers. It's also quite impressive to note that their guitarist is responsible for all of their visuals too...and their drummer is regularly cited as being one of the best in the business; I concur.

I thought the Femmes were great, a really good way to round off what was a throughly enjoyable day. I'm pretty young, but I can still remember buying Add It Up (the first cassette I ever owned) and thinking I was so so grown up...ah, the memories...

The East stand did sound better, unfortunately we didn't get there until the Killers, who were my pick of the bands I heard, though I had two teenage daughters & we headed off about 8:30, it was a shame about the west stand audio & vodafone sms packing it in, the timing of that was kinda bad as my 15yr old ( 5 foot 6 & not alot of her ) & 2 friends had been up the front for Goodnight Nurse & stayed for MCR, I could see from the west stand it was gong to be rough, but could not warn them & it got pretty bad, the surge at the start was scarey viewing ( as a Dad ). Thankfully the girls got out ok.Speaking of BYO liquor it was everywhere, well at least I'm figuring the abundance of camelbak's & varients were not filled with water :).I do agree about not needing a VIP lounge, the stand at the end ( if you were all 18 ) looked a great spot & the East stand was v.good, not to mention the back stages after MCR were fantastic, nice music & not to many people.

It was odd that even the slightest breeze did effect the quality of sound and this was no more apparent then at the Green stage where Kasabian were let down by an undersized PA. It wasn't until we were within 15 meters or so of the left speaker stack before we understood what the front scrum were so enthusiastic about. Any further back the slight cross stage breeze would throw Kasabian's stomp like sound into a dopplar effect. Once closer to the action I had no problem being called a "fu*cker" with the rest of the crowd by the geezer singing the tunes on stage.

Another highlight of note, and Mr Slack can testify to this, was a small crowd bearing witness to Chris Knox's green undies after he removed his shorts in appreciation of the audience.

Russell, people like Tool because...there's just so much to like. While it might not be everyone's cup of tea, once you know the process this band goes through to create their art (they don't call it music), you gain some appreciation for how unique they are...from Maynard's fascination with Sacred Geometry (a lot of their songs are constructed around this idea) to his new-found spirituality ...

Yeah, yeah, I know, lots and lots of people like them and I'm not going to spoil their fun. But the above list reads to me like reasons not to like them ...

My generation didn't fight the Punk Rock Wars so someone could come round 30 years later basing their "art" on Sacred Geometry! Arggh!

I actually have a fairly long tradition of not digging BDO headliners. I thought Soundgarden were dreadful (twice!) too, and all that machine rock from America gives me the shits. It's like the roll fell out of their rock 'n' roll.

I actually have a fairly long tradition of not digging BDO headliners. I thought Soundgarden were dreadful (twice!) too, and all that machine rock from America gives me the shits. It's like the roll fell out of their rock 'n' roll.

Oh, please don't make me use the Report (Offensive? Report this post to a moderator) function.

For the last couple of years, I haven't gone to the BDO, dismissing myself as being too old. But every year I hear of someone older than me having a completely excellent time (not to mention many people my age and younger), and I vow to go the next year.

I like the Killers' music, but them live was booooooooooooring. They just come across as total wankers, like even they are bored with themselves. Which is a bit of a shame, but there were plenty of other bands who were gracious and happy to be there - apart from being magnificently grand and putting on an amazing show, Muse seemed like really nice people, Eskimo Joe were so happy that people were singing along to their stuff and Lily Allen and Peaches were just marvellous with the crowd interaction.

I don't think I could ever go to the Big Day Out again without an Immortals Lounge pass - my friend most wanted to see Eskimo Joe, which meant getting there at 12.15, so we spent nearly three hours after that up in the lounge out of the crowd and the sun, doing sudoku. I am so very rock'n roll.

The rather interesting thing I've heard from a friend who is a big time tool fan and has seen them several times, is that he thought maynard was lip synching for the first part of the set. Reckoned that he observed his mouth closed when his voice was present on PA, also that they had a severe lack of energy or enthusiasm. Letting down the fans that won the meet and greet was pretty shitty too. Quite honestly the sound at the bdo has always been sketchy, which happens when you don't let anyone sound check. Apart from metallica that is and that was a pretty cool sound check.